Commonwealth Club: The World of Fungi: From Forest to Table

With this program, enjoy a mushroom-centric wild-grazing board, allowing participants to taste and experience fungi in a delicious, approachable way. Join us for an immersive exploration of the fascinating world of fungi—where ecology, culture and cuisine intersect. This program brings together two unique perspectives. Mai Lovaas is the co-creator of African Fungi Voices and the workshop on fungi and women’s livelihoods in Africa during the International Congress on Fungal Conservation. She will share her work documenting and amplifying the cultural, ecological and nutritional importance of fungi in Africa and around the world. Her work highlights the deep connections between fungi, biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems. Maria Finn is the founder of Flora and Fungi Adventures and author of the cookbook Forage. Gather. Feast. She will offer a culinary lens, exploring the role of mushrooms in foraging, food traditions, and contemporary cuisine. She has a trained truffle dog and is fascinated by these underground fungi.  Together, this program invites you to see fungi not only as food, but as a vital and often overlooked part of our ecosystems, cultures and everyday lives.